Top 5 Best NBA Players Today

[Ugly Bastard]

In lieu of Orgazmo's recent "Sports-Tracy McGrady" thread. I think a Top Five Best NBA Players thread would be prudent at this juncture. A few things first:

A.) This is NOT a "Your Favorite Player" thread. So tonguegina, no Reggie Miller. I know you like him...but let's be honest, he's no Top 5 player (anymore).

2.) If you'd like to make a little arguement for each player your list, and what it is that makes them good, go right ahead.

D.) Call me anal for this rule, but for the sake of pissy arguements, Michael Jordan Cannot Be On Your List. He wouldn't be on my list anyways, because I feel he is far from Top 5 form, but there are a lot of people who would put him on a list like this, simply because of his name. Well, to avoid petty conflict, just leave him off of your list. In three days, he will no longer be an NBA player anyways.

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My List:

1.) Kevin Garnett-He's a force. The man can damn near play any position from 1-5. A double-double is guaranteed every-night from him.

2.) Tracy McGrady-I like Kobe more. But Kobe scores 30 a game on a good team that gives him a lot of support. Tracy scores 30 a game on a not-so-good team that fails to support him in certain situations. Basically, Tracy carries the Magic nearly single-handedly.

3.) Kobe Bryant-He is my favorite player in the NBA (other than Jordan). He's fun to watch, he's a good all-around guy, and it seems like every-game he does something you've never seen before.

4.) Tim Duncan-aka: Mr. Fundamental. Duncan gets the job done, plain and simple. If there is one player that you can guarantee will have a good year at the onset of every season, here he is.

5.) Shaquille O'Neal-It pains me to put him on this list, 'cause I'm not a big fan of his. But until there is a big-man who can step up and shut-down Shaq, how can you look away from this guy whilst making a list like this?

Yours?

-Ugly Bastard

[This message has been edited by Ugly Bastard (edited April 13, 2003).]

1.) Tracy McGrady - He is amazing. He takes the ball and scores at his own discretion. He doesn't allow others contain him...because no one can.

2.) Kobe Bryant - Like Tracy...just not as good. Close...but not close enough.

3.) Kevin Garnett - He's great at everything...which is always a plus.

4.) Dirk Nowitzki - He is to KG as Kobe is to McGrady.

5.) Ben Wallace - Not sure if he should be here...but he definitely needs recognition. He's clearly the best defender in the NBA (leading the league in both blocks & rebounds...which he has averages over 2 more/game than the next nearest competitor). Sure, he's not a dominant scorer...but the fact that his skills aren't readily available no matter where you look, he is very rare. Of course, rare != top 5...but, in this case, I think he deserves it.

There are some really good players that aren't on my list...namely Shaq. Sure, he's good...he dominates...but I don't think that he offers enough to be in the top 5...too one-dimensional.

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[Mister Bater]

An excellent list if I may so, UB. Great idea for a thread too. Anyway, here's the cream from Bater's crop:

1. McGrady- Remove him and they are the Denver Nuggets (can't say the Cavs because they have talent but choose not to use it). He plays hurt, gives it his all every game, and makes every player around him better. He's also one of the few offensive threats that busts his ass on the defensive side of the floor. If Gooden and Giricek develop to their fullest and Hill ever gets healthy, T-Mac will finally have a decent team.
2. Garnett- like McGrady, but in a tougher conference. Normally, this would be in his favor, but he also has a better team (at the moment). KG does it all and is essentially the Timberwolves. Another guy that makes his team better. Still, since he has a better team to work with than T-Mac at the moment(Wally, Hudson, and Nesterovic) it's hard to rank him too high with their poor playoff track. Part of this is from his contract, which angers players like Marbury that could bring them past the first round. If he gets rid of that and shows he's totally dedicated to the team, he moves up.
3. Tim Duncan- Draft day=instant championship for the Spurs. True, the Admiral hadn't sunk into oblivion yet, but anyone that denies Duncan was responsible for the Spurs title has their head up Ahmad Rashad's ass. Robinson is not clutch in the playoffs, and the minute Tim was drafted it became his team. He does it all, and is pretty much the sole obstacle to the Lakers 4 peat. Plus, if he gets some much needed support in the form of Kidd, Brand, J. O'Neal, or KG, they'll win it until he retires.
4. Kobe Bryant- He's unstoppable. Possibly the best defender in the league. So why isn't he number one? The first few games in the season prove that he isn't ready to survive without Shaq. While he's the guy Phil wants handling the ball at the end of the game, he has a tendency to keep it to the point it is detrimental to the team (e.g. Utah Jazz game, most games this year). Doesn't get along too well with his teammates either, although it's nowhere near Blazer levels. Strictly on talent, he's one of the best. As a team player, he's like Ricky Davis.
5. Iverson- Yeah, Shaq should probably be on the list, but he's off until he decides whether he's a cop or a basketball player. Plus, the surgery situation kind of annoyed me. Anyway, Iverson is the reason for Shaq's recent idiotic comments directed to Bibby (he was right that Bibby isn't a top-tier pg, but it didn't need to be said). Like T-Mac, an Iverson-less Sixers would not be in the Playoffs. When he uses his teammates, they are a tough group to beat. Like Kobe, he is extremely athletic and can score at will. He also plays through just about any injury, something Shaq needs to learn how to do. He's got some personal problems and as a person he's shit, but he's still one hell of a player.
Honorable Mentions: Webber, Wallace, J. O'Neal.

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[Trout Sniffer]

I don't really feel like giving detailed reasons, and really, I don't follow the NBA too much so this list maybe suck, but anyways, here it is.

Tracy McGrady - The other posters left enough on him, i don't think i need to leave more

Allen Iverson - He's been dominant for quite a few years, and the man still amazes me when i see him. He's fairly short, but nobody can effectively stop him

Ben Wallace - The man is amazing. He can go scoreless and still have 10 times more impact on the game than someone else with 30+ points. He is not human, but a machine. He rebounds and blocks shots like nobody I've ever seen. His defensive ability is what held the Piston's together. He is on defense what McGrady is on offense.

Kevin Garnett - Bottom line, he's a great player all around.

Last, I'm not sure I can find anyone, so I'll just leave the 4 best players. Although everyone seems to love Kobe, and I like him too, he's way too inconsistant for me, so I don't think I can pick him to be in the top 5.

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-WCHS Administration SUCKS!

[vader521]

kevin garnet - he is his team
t-mac - great dribble to the hoop
allen iverson - good and cocky
kobe - good, knows it and shows it
paul peirce - all around skill with a strong outside shot